Hug The Monster

During any given Inner Circle monthly meeting across the country, the facilitator may advise a Member that they need to “Hug The Monster.”  Coined by Inner Circle founder, Norm Stoehr, the phrase relates to those unpleasant tasks typically associated with removing a significant obstacle in one’s business or life.  Consciously or subconsciously, it is human nature to avoid the Monster.

What do Monsters look like?  Maybe it’s the mediocre employee who is bringing down morale and productivity.  Or the business partner who isn’t doing her share.  It could be your relative in your family-owned business who is undermining your authority.  Procrastinating on your business planning and cash forecasting is another one.  Or maybe it’s an overdue conversation with a spouse.

The certainty is that entrepreneurs always have some form of a Monster to slay.  This may, in part, relate to Joseph Heller’s quote in Something Happened: “I think that maybe inside any business, there is someone going crazy.”

Here’s a reassuring quote by Anthony Greenbank though from The Book of Survival: “To live through an impossible situation, you don’t need the reflexes of a Grand Prix driver, the muscles of a Hercules, the mind of an Einstein.  You simply need to know what to do.”

As a business owner, do you know ‘what to do’ and do you have people and support mechanisms in place to keep you focused on doing it?  Many times, hugging the Monster is the most critical thing you can do for your business and/or life at the moment.  Embrace it, resolve it, and move forward.

Until next time, stay courageous and remember to hug those Monsters.